"DNA has been really valuable to us as a church in helping us to train and develop our own emerging leaders. It seems to me that DNA strikes just the right balance between concentrated classroom time and "doing the stuff". This isn't about working volunteers to the bone, but neither is it about investment without return. We've seen huge growth in those we've put through DNA, and they in turn have blessed our church. For that reason I would wholeheartedly commend DNA to you."
Chuck Freeland
City Church, Aberdeen
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DNA: Scotland
The model for DNA: Scotland is different to that of England as we recognise and have been advised that it is important for Scottish trainees to have training in Scotland by Scottish leaders. It is also important for them to be and feel a part of the larger DNA training experience in England.
The model that we run offers training in both Scottish and English settings. This offers the Scottish trainees a full DNA experience. Click here for the full programme as described below.
- three residential training blocks at the beginning, middle and end of your DNA year with English trainees in England.
- seven two-day blocks in England
- six two-day blocks in Scotland
- varied delivery (discussion, debate, groupwork, roleplay, visual aids, printed notes) by the best exponents and practitioners.
- two days a week personal study
- reading through the Bible in a year in a structured way with helpful notes
- book and teaching CD access through the DNA library
- written or oral work, completed termly
- termly placement visits by DNA Team member
- action opportunities as in England but may include involvement at CLAN Gathering and Imagine
Whatever the church, you are likely to be in a small team of two people. If this is your own church, it is likely that will know where you will be living for your year. If we place you in a church, your placement church will arrange for you to live with a family from within the church your year.
Your placement church will have a programme for you to serve within which will have been developed by someone in the church leadership who has been designated as your co-ordinator. The programme will be dependant on the vision of the church - we will spend time listening to your desired areas of service to place you appropriately.
Your co-ordinator will be predominantly responsible for your skills development. You will work with and meet with this person regularly as they seek to develop you in as many different areas as possible. You can be sure that the pace of the programme will be stretching as we want to see you developed as much as possible.
You will also have a personal discipler, who again will form part of the leadership of the church. This person's primary responsibility is to see your character developed to be more like Jesus. They will meet with you regularly to talk and pray with you to help you in this process.
DNA: Scotland offers all three residential training blocks which cover discipleship issues. These occur at the beginning, middle and end of your year); plus the thirteen two-day blocks (6 in Scotland) that are spread over your year where all DNA trainees come together for training.
The other opportunities that are avialable to you are Spring Harvest, the two-week European international trip and the Summer Experience. Kairos, a six day mission related programme is also available to you at extra cost.
There is a study element which forms a key part of DNA: Scotland, to develop your understanding of issues theological and contemporary.
If doing DNA: Scotland in your own church, the fees cover all aspects of the programme apart from accommodation and food costs within the placement. This includes transport to and from the training opprtunities in Scotland, plus transport to and from your nearest airport to fly south for the English training dates; plus train fares to and from the English trainng venues and airport (except Kairos).
If doing DNA in a church we place you in, the fees cover all aspects of the programme including accommodation and food costs within the placement church. It also covers transport to and from the training opprtunities in Scotland, plus transport to and from your nearest airport to fly south for the English training dates; plus train fares to and from the English trainng venues and airport (except Kairos).and transport to and from the training opportunities (except Kairos).
Teaching team would include (subject to confirmation) Andy Bathgate, Kenny Borthwick, Tara Devlin, Nigel Don MSP, John Drane, Fred Drummond, James Duce, Iain Duthie, Chuck Freeland, Iain Clyne, Eddie McKenna, Stuart McPhail, John MacKinnon, Peter Neilson, Thom Raller, Keith Short, Colin Symes, Rupert Ward and Jamie Watters.
Please note that whilst you are able to follow the accredited route offered to all, Scottish education establishments will not recognise the OCN credits gained on DNA. This is due to education being a devolved area of power.
Costs 2009/2010
£3933 - includes food and accommodation if based away from your home church or;
£3303 - if based in your own church and living without household bills; or
£2781 - if based in your own church and living independently with rent and other bills.
Fees are payable termly
Optional costs
£165 - Kairos
£165 - Accreditation
Or if numbers do not permit this model, DNA: Scotland shall work as above minus the six Scottish two-day blocks.
Costs 2009/2010
£2577 - includes food and accommodation if based away from your own church or;
£1925 - if based in your own church and living without household bills; or
£1425 - if based in your own church and living independently with rent and other bills.
Fees are payable termly
Optional costs
£165 - Kairos
£165 - Accreditation
For more information on DNA: Scotland or to see how we could serve you and/or your church please email us.
